Police arrests Muslim man for running a cow smuggling racket in Pratapgarh
Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh, India 
31 December, 2023
Case Summary
The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) has arrested a Muslim man named Arshad alias Ashad, who is an important member of a cow smuggling racket in Pratapgarh district. The accused hails from Mubarakpur in Prayagraj. The police apprehended him near Annawa village. Arshad has a long history of illegal cow smuggling and had been arrested earlier under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and the Cow Slaughter Prevention Act. Even though he was previously jailed, Arshad went on carrying out his cow smuggling activities with his fellow gang members, even after being released from prison. Thus, in 2025, police filed a case against him under the Gangster Act, following which he went underground. During interrogation, Arshad confessed that his gang had been engaged in the illegal transportation of cows to slaughterhouses. As of the date of writing this report, legal proceedings against him were underway.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
The cow is considered sacred in the Hindu religion. Often, cows are slaughtered by non-Hindu perpetrators as a mark of insult to the Hindu faith. There have been several documented cases throughout history where cow slaughter is used as a method to insult the Hindu faith, convert Hindus (by force-feeding beef) and desecrate temples. In all cases of cow slaughter, there is a suspicion of religious animosity against Hindus working as a motivating factor, however, in the absence of any concrete indication, this case is being categorised as Undecided. If more details emerge, it would be added to the Hate Crime Database.
Case Status
Arrested
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
One Person
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
